Las Vegas Raiders Mock Draft Roundup 3.0

It's no secret new Raiders head coach Pete Carroll wants to run the ball. Jeanty will likely pound the rock 20-25 times a game without hesitation, running through contact and exploding for big gains in the open field.

Ashton Jeanty has been a popular pick for the Raiders here, and I get it, but have you seen this team's WR corps? Yes, you want to complement Geno Smith with a run game, but the man needs somebody to throw the ball to off all those play-action fakes you're dreaming of.

The Raiders had one of the worst rushing attacks in recent memory last season, needing a clear boost of talent at running back. Jeanty would be an immediate upgrade with the ability to be a long-term solution at the position as well. With Geno Smith in the fold at quarterback for the next few seasons, a running back becomes a more defensible pick this high, and Jeanty's talent shouldn't be questioned.

Trading for quarterback Geno Smith allowed the Raiders to adopt a strict best-player-available approach here, and they couldn't lose as they identified six Tier 1 studs. It came down to running back Ashton Jeanty or Graham, and the Raiders went with another disruptor up front, as they emulate the Eagles' Super Bowl-winning approach. Graham has a great first step, leverage, violence and a persistent motor and can also hold his own against the run. It will be like having two Christian Wilkins side by side and the Raiders can draft a starting RB in the second or third round. — Vic Tafur

The Raiders can take some pressure off of Geno Smith by adding Jeanty, who is one of the top three players in the draft.

Now that the Raiders have Geno Smith at quarterback, addressing a rushing attack that averaged an NFL-worst 3.6 yards per carry would seem to be the next logical step. Sure, this year's running back class is deep enough to find a quality starting candidate later, but Jeanty is special — and nothing about the Raiders' moves this offseason suggests they're in the mood for patience.

With Jeanty in the mix, the Raiders are much more dangerous on paper now than they were a year ago.

The Raiders jump at the opportunity to add a cornerback of Revel's size and ball-hawking skill in Round 1. Without many picks entering this draft, the Vikings will be motivated to move back. In this deal, they net No. 37 (second round), No. 68 (third round) and No. 215 (sixth round).

Vegas is interesting. The Raiders went out and got quarterback Geno Smith, which I think allows them to take the best player available here. They're in a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix, so you'd think that after watching what the Eagles did in Super Bowl LIX that the Raiders would want to replicate that in some way. Adding Graham would bolster an already strong defensive line, putting him with Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins. That might be the most disruptive defensive line in football with Graham, and you need that to beat Mahomes. I don't think there's been a defensive tackle prospect like him in quite a while, being great against the run and at disrupting blocks.

Coach Pete Carroll wasn't waiting until the draft to find his quarterback for 2025. After Las Vegas had the No. 13 pick last year and missed on all six of the first-round QBs, the team went out and traded for Geno Smith before free agency kicked off. Carroll obviously has history with Smith from their time together in Seattle and knows how to maximize him. But Carroll's teams also have leaned heavily on the run in the past, so I'm giving the Raiders the best player still on my board in Jeanty (No. 4).

Elusiveness. Speed. Physicality. Vision with the ball in his hands. Jeanty really has it all, rushing for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns last season. Plus, he has some pass-catching upside, with 66 catches over the past two campaigns. The Raiders were last in rushing last season, averaging 3.6 yards per carry and 79.8 per game. Jeanty would change everything there and create a solid offensive nucleus with Smith, Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers.

They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Well, Pete Carroll isn't going to stop prioritizing the running back position just because he took a year away from the NFL. Ashton Jeanty, the best running back prospect since at least Bijan Robinson, immediately gives the Raiders a formidable rushing attack.

Las Vegas made one of the big splashes this March with their its for QB Geno Smith. It sets the stage for the Raiders to not get desperate at No. 6 overall, and in this scenario, they bypass putting too much faith in 2024 third-round pick DJ Glaze and take what has become the consensus top tackle in the draft.

An offensive line of Kolton Miller, Jordan Meredith, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dylan Parham, and Armand Membou has the potential in time to be one of the league's best if they keep this group together.